A COUNCIL boss wants to retrieve millions of pounds handed back to developers for a new junction on the A40 at Witney.

Oxfordshire County Council had to repay £3.6m given to it by developers of a Witney housing estate under planning laws.

This was because it had not spent the money provided by developers of the Madley Park estate within a 10-year time limit.

Now county council leader Ian Hudspeth is to speak to the consortium behind the estate to try to get the cash back. The cash was earmarked – but not used for – the failed Cogges Link Road scheme around Witney.

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The developers said it could not then be used for a £2.8m to £4.2m alternative, for a four-way junction on the A40 at Shores Green, east of Witney.

Mr Hudspeth said: “I’m fully in support of going back to the developers because the money was promised to improve Witney transport.

“This is to remind everyone that £3.6m has been returned to developers when it should have been providing a relief for Witney and if the developers return the money to us we will then be able to fund Shores Green.”

The Oxford Mail this month revealed the money was part of a £10.3m county budget for the link road, but only £1.3m remained. The rest was spent on other transport projects and legal and preparatory work for the link road.

Mr Hudspeth said the council spent a year negotiating with the consortium, including Persimmon Homes and Taylor Wimpey, after the link road was rejected by the Government at a public inquiry two years ago.

Mr Hudspeth made the pledge after he was urged by West Oxfordshire District Council yesterday to begin negotiations.

District cabinet members Richard Langridge and Simon Hoare put forward a motion at its meeting to ask Mr Hudspeth to reopen talks.

He will also be asked to promise that the £1.3m remaining will be put aside for Shores Green.

Mr Langridge, a Conservative councillor for Witney North, said: “We urgently need west-facing slip-roads to alleviate the traffic.

“The Shores Green scheme has the clear support of the people of Witney.

“We need it and we need it now.”

Mr Hoare, Conservative councillor for Hailey, Minster Lovell and Leafield, told its full council meeting that the developers had used a “dubious sleight of hand” to get the money back.

He added: “This is a golden opportunity to slightly restore their reputations.”

The developers could not be reached for comment.

 

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